OCTIS vs register a Taiwan company yourself or use an agent
What the process looks like for a foreign founder, and which parts an agent actually does for you.
Last checked · 4 sources
Otty's short answer
A foreign founder cannot skip the Investment Commission approval, the preparatory-office bank account or the capital confirmation, whoever files. An agent takes over the paperwork and filings. Pro360 reports company set-up by agents at about NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 before government fees. Register yourself if you read Chinese and have time. Use an agent if not.
Side by side
Swipe to see every column
| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | Register it yourself | Bookkeeping or formation agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Commission approval | Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there | You file it | Agent files it |
| Needed for foreign investors | 100% foreign ownership allowed | Yes, any amount | Yes, any amount |
| Name pre-check and reservation | Filed online with the Companies Registry | You file online | Agent files |
| Preparatory-office bank account | Bank account via licensed partners | You open it | You still open it |
| Agent set-up fee, company | At least 10% below any qualifying quote (Lowest Price Guarantee) | None | Reported about NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 |
| Government fees and capital check | Government fees included in the package | You pay | Extra, you pay |
| Local agent for non-resident | Needs a Hong Kong company secretary (OCTIS's TCSP-licensed partner) and a Hong Kong registered office address | Check with the Investment Commission | Check with the agent |
| Ongoing bookkeeping | Bookkeeping done by OCTIS, 10–30% below your current bill | Hire separately | Reported about NT$2,500 to NT$3,000 per month |
If you have staff, premises or local sales in this country, its own registration and tax rules still apply. OCTIS can help you arrange them.
Data sources & disclaimer: Comparison data was compiled from publicly available sources — including the competitors' own published pricing and feature pages — captured on 9 November 2026. Figures reflect the typical or advertised pricing at that time and may have changed since; plans, inclusions and prices vary by provider, region and promotion. OCTIS is independent and not affiliated with the named companies; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information only and is not professional, legal or financial advice — please verify current details with each provider before deciding.
Which one fits you
OCTIS · Hong Kong company + OCTIS global plan
Choose OCTIS if you are abroad and want one team to form the company, keep the books and file for you.
Register it yourself
Register yourself if you or a local partner read Chinese, the business is simple and you can follow the Investment Commission steps.
Bookkeeping or formation agent
Use an agent if you are abroad, do not read the forms, or want one party to chase the filings and the later tax registration.
What the table does not show
The steps are the same either way
A foreign investor sets up in this order: check the founder is not a Chinese national and the trade is open to foreign investors, pre-check and reserve the company name, apply to the Investment Commission, open a preparatory-office bank account, remit capital, have the investment confirmed, then register the company and open the tax file. The Taiwan Gold Card Office guide, last updated in March 2022, estimates two to three months. Each step can slow the next one, so an agent mainly saves you chasing, translating and refiling when an office returns a form for correction.
What an agent charges
The only published price range we found is from Pro360, a services marketplace: about NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 to set up a company, excluding government fees, the CPA's capital verification and seal engraving, and about NT$2,500 to NT$3,000 per month for bookkeeping a limited or shares company. Fees by lawyers and by one-stop foreign-company services are quote-based. Ask what is included in writing. Compare at least two quotes.
The bank account is the step agents cannot do for you
The founder guide names the preparatory-office bank account as one of the two main hurdles, with approval. Taiwan banks apply strict identity and source-of-funds checks to new companies. If you are abroad, ask the bank early what it needs from a foreign shareholder and whether you must appear in person. Keep the company's registered address and shareholder papers ready, as banks ask for them with the approval letter.
Where OCTIS fits
OCTIS does not form companies or keep books in Taiwan. If your Malaysian or Hong Kong company is opening a Taiwan subsidiary, we can keep the home company's books and consolidate the subsidiary's statements into them. You can also compare the cost of running it from Malaysia or Hong Kong. Send us your current bill and we come in 10–30% off it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a company in Taiwan without an agent?
Yes in principle. Filings go to the Ministry of Economic Affairs' services and the Investment Commission, and the sources we read do not require a paid agency. Whether a foreign investor with no Taiwan residence needs a local representative is not confirmed here, so ask the Investment Commission.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Taiwan?
Pro360 lists about NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 for agent set-up, plus government fees, the CPA capital verification and seal engraving. Capital is your own and has no statutory minimum.
Do foreigners need approval to set up a company in Taiwan?
Yes. Foreign investors need approval from the Investment Commission before bringing in capital, whatever the amount, then confirmation that the shareholders have paid in. Capital must be remitted after approval, and the shareholders' payment is then confirmed.
How long does it take?
The Gold Card Office founder guide gives two to three months if nothing goes wrong. Delays come from bank accounts, plan changes and overseas remittances. Plan for the bank account first, because it is the step most likely to slip.
Can a Chinese national use this process?
Not this one. The founder guide says Chinese nationals follow a separate set of rules, so confirm nationality rules before you start. The same applies to business lines closed to foreign investors.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.